kimber montana

[shilo]

Just wondering if anyone has one of these and how do they like it? They look like a very nice rifle and very light too. Do they shoot good? Any problems? Thinking about 300WSM. Do you think that round will still be around in a few years? Seems like it's popularity really died off. Don't want to buy something that ammo availability is going to be a problem in a few years.

[Bigboar]

I have one in 270 WSM and it is a shooter.  With factory fodder the largest group is 1.25 the smallest in ~.35" @ 100 .5 @200.  I just love this gun.  Great quality, and very smooth.  With it being light though a 300 you will notice the recoil.  I have some larger cals. So recoil for me is no big deal, just thought I'd mention it.

bigboar

[deerman12]

I have one in 270 WSM.  It is a good shooter with most 130-140 grain loads(about an inch).  My shows an affinity for 140 grain accubonds and RL-19.  It will shot 1/2 inch with this combo.  As far as the rifle, it has the best trigger of any of my rifles, cycles like a dream, and it is nice to carry.  I like the rifle very much, worth the extra money to me.  To me, a person might as well buy a gun like this, than to buy a $500 rifle and have $1000 when it finally is customized like you want.  I am not concerned about the popularity.  I reload, so factory ammuntion availability is not issue.  The only negative(to me) is the stock is alittle slick at times.  I would not be affaid to try another, especially if I felt I got a bargain!  Good Luck!

[shilo]

Thanks for the replies. I started thinking about one of these for out west in the mountains. They're listed at 6lbs 3oz , which is 2lbs lighter than what I'm currently carrying before I put a scope on it.

[sidekick]

I have one in .308 Win. for two years and love it. Decided to check my scope (Zeiss Conquest 3x9) last Saturday since returning from an out of town hunting trip. 2 shots at 100 yards; keyholed 2" high,  dead center, just where I had it set. This is with Georgia Arms factory 150 grain ammo. Hornady 150 & 165 grain factory ammo shoots well also in my rifle. One thing you need to know however, the barrel heats up quickly and groups will open significantly if you shoot it hot. Shoot it cool, and it will practically throw them in the same hole.

[Zachary]

The finest production/ semi-production guns that I own are the Kimber Montana in first place, Sako 75 in second, and Tikka in third.  These are my ratings in terms of quality, components, and fit & finish. 

I have the Kimber Montana in .300WSM.  The fit and finish is absolutely incredible.  Glass bedded, custom lightweight stock, match trigger, match barrel, etc.

Groups with Federal Premium 180 Nosler Partitions are under an inch (about 3/4") and with Barnes X (or maybe new TSX? I forget) the groups open up to about 1" to 1 1/4".

Given that this gun is lightweight, I would NOT get the Zeiss Conquest 3x-9x-40mm because it is quite heavy.  Same goes for the Elite 4200 2.5x-10x-40mm.  Instead, I opted for the Leupold VX-III in 3.5x-10x-40mm.  This scope is shorter and lighter than the other two.  For scope rings, I got Talley Lightweight aluminum.

Killer combination.

Zachary

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Thing is---the Zeiss absolutely blows the others away in performance---a little weight trade-off is tolerable.

My Montana wears a Zeiss Diavari-C-----3x9x36----Talley ring mounts.

[Zachary]

I own all three scopes: Elite 4200, Zeiss Conquest, VX-III.  And also Nikon Monarchs.

Yes, the Zeiss conquest is an excellent scope - no question about it.  However, the same holds true for the other 3 makes.  I'm not sure how much better, if any, the Conquest is over the Monarch, VX-III, and Elite 4200, if any.  But, in my personal experience, I would not say that the Zeiss blows away the others that I mentioned.

Now, if you are talking about a Leupold VX-II, Nikon Buckmaster, Elite 3200, then yes, I would agree that the Conquest blows them away.

Zachary

[shilo]

These rifles are sounding pretty nice. What about the 300WSM? Do you think it will still be around 5 or 10 yrs down the road. They seem to be quickly dying around here. Don't see any rifles chambered for them or ammo.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

The Montana comes into its own with the non-magnum short action calibers--at just a touch over 5lbs--nothing comes close short of an all out custom ultra light.

When you get to the 8400 (long and mag actions) your options change a bit----you can get a Tikka T3 Lite stainless/syn for pretty much half the price that weighs in the same ballpark.

I've passed on some very nice rifles lately simply because of the short mag chambering---the .325WSM has my interest---but I'm not sure if I'll ever get one due to the fickle nature of what cartridges survive and what dies off.

[jro45]

I go to the range quite alot and haven't seen any of those WSM calibers being shot while I'm there. That doesn't mean they aren't around tho.
I don't own any of those WSM calibers.

[The Sodbuster]

jro45 offered:

I go to the range quite alot and haven't seen any of those WSM calibers being shot while I'm there. That doesn't mean they aren't around tho.

I clean up a public range as part of the job.  For centerfire, rifle brass, not counting the military stuff (.223 Rem, 7.62X39 & 7.62X54R), the most popular cartridges are .30-06 and .30-30.  .270 Win and .243 Win are also very common.  After that, maybe the 7mm Rem mag and .300 Win mag and .25-06.  I see the short mag stuff on occasion, but nothing like the volume of .30-30 and .30-06.

[shilo]

Got to compare the Montana and the Classic today. Both are very nicely fitted and finished rifles. The metal work looked very good. No tool marks, no polishing blemishes, lines were straight and surfaces were even. The only negative with the Montana for me was the lack of a floorplate. I know not having one saves weight, but these rifles are so light I don't think the addition of a floorplate would really matter. I'm just not a big fan of blind magazines. Still thinking.